Latest news with #PaulMathiasen
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Death toll in Dominican Republic disaster nears 250, nightclub faces lawsuits
By Paul Mathiasen (Reuters) - The death toll at last week's nightclub roof collapse in the capital of the Dominican Republic rose to 231, the Minister of Interior and Police said on Monday, as families of victims began filing lawsuits against the nightclub's owners. Holy Week will be different this year in the Caribbean tourist destination, with multiple events and activities canceled and beach parties banned, according to the Dominican Navy. Municipal authorities have also suspended the traditional Easter activities that take place in public squares and parks. Relatives of Virgilio Rafael Cruz, one of the victims who died on April 8, have begun a legal action against the establishment's owners, the family's lawyer told local media on Monday. Other families have also indicated they will file lawsuits. Jet Set nightclub is owned by Antonio Espaillat, the second-largest broadcaster in the Dominican Republic and owner of 50 radio stations. "From the very beginning we have been collaborating fully and transparently with authorities," Espaillat said in a video posted on Instagram shortly after the incident. Local media and ticketing sites indicate the club could accommodate between 700 and 1,000 people, though there is no official confirmation on how many were present at the time of the disaster. Authorities have begun investigations to determine the causes of the collapse. The forensic investigation will take about three months to reach an official conclusion, according to Leonardo Reyes, who heads a government department that oversees building structure vulnerabilities.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Death toll in Dominican Republic nightclub collapse rises to 124 as search for survivors grows bleaker
By Paul Mathiasen SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - A devastating roof collapse on Tuesday at a popular nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic has now claimed at least 124 lives, authorities said on Wednesday, as the search for survivors turns increasingly grim. Throughout the night on Wednesday, families waited outside the wreckage of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, anxious for information about their missing relatives and sharing photos with police. More than 150 people were rescued from the rubble on Tuesday. Since that afternoon, however, authorities have not pulled out any survivors. Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the country's emergency operations center, said rescue workers expected to need another 24 to 36 hours to complete their search. Emergency crews deployed heavy machinery to expedite recovery efforts. The tragedy unfolded during a concert by popular Dominican merengue singer Rubby Perez. The event, which had drawn politicians, athletes and other prominent figures, turned into a nightmare after midnight as the roof suddenly collapsed. Perez was one of the victims. His body was recovered on Wednesday morning. Pitcher Octavio Dotel and slugger Tony Blanco, both former Major League Baseball players, were also killed. Another victim was Nelsy Cruz, governor of the northern Monte Cristi province, President Luis Abinader said. Cruz was the sister of former MLB player Nelson Cruz, a seven-time All-Star. The son of the public works and communications minister also died in the disaster.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dominican Republican nightclub roof collapse kills at least 44, including governor and ex-MLB pitcher Dotel
By Paul Mathiasen SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) -A catastrophic roof collapse at an iconic nightclub in the Dominican Republic's capital left at least 44 people dead, including a provincial governor and former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel, authorities said on Tuesday. Some 146 people were injured and emergency crews were still working to pull survivors from the rubble as families of the victims gathered at the site searching for their loved ones. Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the Dominican Republic's emergency operations center, said early Tuesday that efforts to rescue those trapped under the debris were continuing, though the exact number of people inside the club at the time of the collapse remained unclear. The disaster struck during a concert attended by politicians, athletes and other prominent figures. Among the victims was Nelsy Cruz, governor of the northern Monte Cristi province, President Luis Abinader said. Cruz was the sister of former baseball player Nelson Cruz, a seven-time Major League Baseball All-Star. Former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel also died en route to a local hospital after being pulled from the debris, a spokesman for the nation's sports ministry said. Dotel, 51, debuted for the New York Mets in 1999 and played until 2013 for more than a dozen teams including the Houston Astros, Oakland A's, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers. "Thinking about our people in the Dominican Republic," Carlos Mendoza, manager of the Mets, said in a press conference. "We have a lot of the Dominican community in the baseball world." Nearly 150 people have been taken to local hospitals for treatment, according to the government. The cause of the roof collapse remained under investigation.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Parents of Pittsburgh student missing in Caribbean seek death certificate
By Paul Mathiasen SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - The parents of an Indian-born student from a U.S. university who went missing earlier this month from a popular tourist resort in the Dominican Republic have asked police to declare their daughter legally deceased, according to a letter released by a police source on Monday. The investigation into the case remains open. Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh, went missing on March 6 - two days before an international day of activism for women's rights - during a spring break trip to Punta Cana. Konanki had arrived in the Caribbean nation three days earlier and had been staying in an upscale hotel on the eastern coast. She was last seen in early-morning surveillance footage making her way to the nearby beach with a group of friends. "Following an extensive search, Dominican authorities have concluded that Sudiksha is believed to have drowned ... the individual last seen with her is cooperating with the investigation, and no evidence of foul play has been found," the letter said. "Given these circumstances, and after much deliberation, we request that the police department proceed with the legal declaration of her death," it added. Shortly after Konanki's disappearance, which sparked an Interpol alert, the Indian Embassy in the Dominican Republic said it was "extending all assistance in coordination with government authorities." Asked about the investigation in a weekly press conference on Monday, President Luis Abinader said local authorities were collaborating with officials from the United States, including from the FBI. "The investigation is ongoing," he said. "We trust it will have a result in due time." The Dominican Republic hosted over 11 million tourists last year - around the same as its own population and making it one of the most visited destinations in the Americas. The U.S. advises "increased caution" for travelers to the country and the FBI on Monday urged spring break tourists to be vigilant.
